Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Which poem are these lines taken from? Who is the writer of the poem? What does he mean by ―Life is a broken-winged bird‖?

These lines are from the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes.

Langston Hughes was a prominent African American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist, known for his insightful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties.

In the line "Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly," Hughes uses a powerful metaphor to emphasize the importance of dreams. He suggests that without dreams, life loses its vitality and potential, much like a bird with broken wings that is incapable of flying and thus fulfilling its natural purpose. Dreams give life direction and hope; without them, life becomes stunted and devoid of possibility.